Google launches underwater endeavor with Seaview

People will soon be able to explore the depths of the ocean seeking
out tiger sharks, green turtles, and manta rays with a new program
called the Catlin Seaview Survey.

Still taken from the Catlin Seaview Survey video.

(Credit:
The Catlin Seaview Survey)

Imagine if Google Earth could take users under the ocean. People on
laptops sitting hundreds of miles away from any body of water could dive
down and spot colorful reef fish, coral forests, sea snakes, and rare
turtles. A program just like this was officially announced today.
In a partnership with Google, the global insurance company Catlin Group Limited and nonprofit Underwater Earth launched the Catlin Seaview Survey.
The goal is to let people explore the ocean from afar and also carry
out the first detailed study about the composition and health of coral
reefs. The mapping expedition is expected to set sail in September 2012.
"The Catlin Seaview Survey comprises a series of studies, which will
reveal to the public one of the last frontiers on Earth: the oceans,"
chief scientist for the project Ove Hoegh-Guldberg said in a statement.
"For the first time in history, we have the technology available to
broadcast the findings and expedition through Google."
Users
won't be able to look for Hawaiian underwater volcanoes or the Loch Ness
Monster quite yet--so far the mapping will just be available for the
Great Barrier Reef in Australia. However, being 2,300 kilometers long,
what can be seen in that part of the Pacific Ocean is unrivaled.

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The Catlin Seaview Survey camera is equipped with a depth range
of zero to 100 meters and can capture thousands of 360-degree underwater
panoramas. When these images are stitched together, people will be able
to choose a location and go for a virtual dive. Using Panoramio, a location-oriented photo sharing Web site, the panoramas will be uploaded for millions to see worldwide. Once all mapping with the Catlin Seaview Survey is done, there will be roughly 50,000 panoramas that will be accessible on Google Earth
and Google Maps. A YouTube channel will also be dedicated to the
project that will include livestreams of the expedition team from the
ocean floor.
One of the goals of the project is to understand
the effects of climate change on the ocean by doing comprehensive
surveys over time. Three distinct surveys will be done: shallow reef,
deep-water, and mega-fauna. The shallow reef survey will use image
recognition software to quickly take visual census of corals, fish, and
other organisms. The deep-water survey will use diving robots to explore
the reef at depths of 30 to 100 meters, where little is known. The
mega-fauna survey will study the migratory behavior of tiger sharks,
green turtles, and manta rays in response to increasing seawater
temperatures.
Over the coming years, the Catlin Seaview Survey
plans to expand globally. Hoegh-Guldberg said, "Millions of people will
be able to experience the life, the science and the magic that exists
under the surface of our oceans."